Talks between the two sides have reached an impasse in recent months, despite Washington's efforts to revive them.

VOA: standard.2009.11.17

The president said both leaders will need to end delays and make sacrifices to revive the peace talks that broke off in 2008.

VOA: standard.2009.09.22

The politicians internal divisions have led to fears that a political vacuum could give Sunni militants a chance to revive the sectarian violence that roiled the nation in 2006 and 2007.

VOA: standard.2010.04.04